Buchanan's Journal of Man, June 1887

In this lively 1887 journal, the author launches a bold critique of the stagnant academic and religious establishments that dominate learning in the West. He argues that true insight flourishes not in cloistered lecture halls but in the open air of forests, mountains, and prairies, where nature awakens the mind. By proposing a “New Education,” he invites forward‑thinking readers to imagine a system freed from antiquated dogma.

The work turns its gaze to the latest scientific advances abroad, especially the French experiments with hypnotism and psychometry, presenting them as a daring model for reshaping instruction. Interwoven with brief essays on topics ranging from slavery abolition to animal extinction, the journal paints a vivid picture of a society on the brink of intellectual renewal. Listeners will find a compelling mix of philosophy, science, and social commentary that still resonates with today’s debates about how we learn.